Mechanism for operating wickets.



No. 789,232. PATBNTED MAY 9, 1905. N. F. PURGELL & F. W. MILLER. MECHANISM FOR OPERATING 'WIGKETS.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 18. 1904.

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fiywaa a I22 EYE-"622119 I 7 m 21% WW JM ZM fl No. 789,232. PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

N. P. PUROELL & F. W. MILLER.

MECHANISM FOR OPERATING WIGKETS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18. 1904.

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NITED STATES Patented May 9, 19 F.

PATENT OFFICE.

NICHOLAS F. PURCELL AND FREDERICK W. MILLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MECHANISM FOR OPERATING WICKETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 789,232, dated May 9, 1905.

Application filed July 18,1904. Serial No. 217,117.

1'0 rtM whom it may concern;

Be it known that we, NIoHoLAs F. PURCELL and FREDERICK IV. MILLER. citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Operating VVickets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wickets for cashiers desks. ticket-sellers windows, and similar places, and refers to a means for providing an automatically-operated wicket.

The invention further refers to means for locking said wicket in its closed position, which locking means is within reach of the operator.

It also refers to a means for automatically opening said wicket.

The invention further refers to a means for closing said wicket by a foot-lever convenient of access to the operator.

The invention further refers to the various improvements in detail hereinafter shown and described.

In the accompanying'drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a cashiers desk, taken from the inner side thereof, showing the application of our invention thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through said desk on dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the wicket and its supports on dotted line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

1n the drawings, which illustrate a wicketoperating mechanism embodying our invention, 1 refers to adesk supported in any suitable manner, near the forward or outer edge of which desk are mounted the usual supporting-posts 2, between and upon either side of which is fixed the ornamental grillework 3. Between the posts 2 and just inside the fixed grillework 3 a wicket4 is adapted to slide ver tically, guide-tubes 5, let into the faces of said posts, providing ways for guide-rods 6, fixed to opposite sides of said wicket. These guiderods are secured to said wicket by means of pins 7 extending through the .side bars of said wicket and into the guide-rods 6. The guide-tubes 5 extend downward through the desk 1 to the floor 8, upon which their lower ends rest, and the guide-rods 6, extending downwardly within said tubes, are connected beneath the desk by means of a cross-bar 9, having a rigid connection at its opposite ends with said guide-rods. The guide-tubes are slotted upon their adjacent faces, as at 10, to provide for the vertical movement of the wicket 4 above the desk and the cross-bar 9 below the desk.

Coiled compression-springs 11 are placed within the guide-tubes 5 beneath the lower ends of the guide-rods 6, said springs tending by their elasticity to raise said rods and the wicket 4. In order to hold the wicket in its normal closed position against the lifting action of the springs 11, a locking-bolt 12 is provided, which bolt is secured in a suitable bracket 13, secured upon the under side of the desk. The forward or outer end of the bolt 12 extends through an opening 14 within the guide-tube 5 and is adapted to enter a depression 15 in one of the guide-rods 6. A coiled expansion-spring 16 surrounds the inner end of the bolt 12 and holds its outer end normally in engagement with the rod 6. The

locking-bolt 12 has a handle 17 beneath the inner edge of the desk within easy reach of a person standing at said desk.

In order to lower the wicket against the action of its coiled springs 11, a treadle 18 is provided, pivotally supported in the bracket 19, the forward end of said treadle extending to a point Within easy reach of the foot of the operator. The rear end of the treadle is pivotally connected with a lever 20, which lever is pivoted on a bracket 21, said bracket having a number of openings 22, providing adjustment for the movement of said lever. The opposite end of the lever 20 is connected, by means of a rod 23 and a yoke 24, with the cross-bar 9. Depressing the inner or forward end of the treadle 18 also depresses the crossbar 9 and the wicket 4. The upward movement of the cross-bar, and consequently of the wicket, is limited by buffers 25, of rubber or other suitable elastic material, secured upon a bar 26, fastened tothe under side of the desk. At the forward edge of the desk the space beneath the fixed grillework 3 not occupied by the wicket L is closed by means of panels 27, of glass or other suitable material.

In the operation of this wicket when the cashier or ticket-seller at the desk desires to open the wicket the bolt 12 is drawn inwardly, releasing the guide-rods 6 and the wicket 4 to the action of the compression-springs 11. These springs raise the wicket into its uppermost position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The wicket is returned to its lower or normal position by depressing the treadle 18, the spring-bolt 12 automatically entering the opening 15 in the rod 6 when the wicket is brought into its lowermost position.

It is obvious'that weights might be employed to raise the wicket instead of the compression-springs 11, that the spring lockingbolt 12 might be released by the action of a foot-lever insteadof by hand, and that various other changes in detail might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of our.

invention. Wherefore we desire to have it understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise construction herein shown, but desire to claim the invention broadly.

We claim as our invention-- 1. In an automatically-operated wicket, in combination, a wicket proper; guides for the vertical movement of said wicket; a spring for moving said wicket in one direction; a locking-bolt for holding said wicket against the action of said spring; and a foot-lever for moving said wicket against the action of said spring.

2. In an automatically-operated wicket, in combination, a desk; a wicket proper; slotted guide-tubes; guide-rodsin said tubes, to which guide-rods said wicket is connected; a spring in one of said guide-tubes for moving the guide-rod therein in one direction; means for holding said wicket against the action of said spring; and means adapted to be actuated by the operator and located beneath the desk for moving said wicket against the action of said spring.

3. In an automatically-operated wicket, in combination, a wicket proper; guides for the vertical movement of said wicket; a spring for moving said wicket in one direction; a spring locking-bolt adapted normally to hold said wicketin its closed position; and means for moving said wicket against the action of its moving-spring.

4. In an automatically-operated wicket, in

combination, a desk; a wicket proper; guides for the vertical movement of said wicket; a spring for moving said wicket in one direction; a spring-pressed locking-bolt slidably supported beneath said desk, and adapted normally to hold said wicket in its closed position; and means for moving said wicket against the action of its moving-spring.

5. In an automatically-operated wicket, in combination, a wicket proper; slotted guide tubes; guiderods in said tubes, to which guide-rods said wicket is connected; a spring in one of said guide-tubes for moving said guide-rods in one direction; a spring-pressed locking-bolt adapted normally to hold said wicket in its closid position against the action of its moving spring; and a foot-lever connected with said guide-rods for moving said wicket against the action of its said movingspring.

6. In an automatically-operated wicket, in combination, a desk; a wicket proper; slotted guide-tubes; guid e-rods in said tubes, to which guide-rods said wicket is connected; a spring in one of said guide-tubes for moving said guide-rods in one direction; a bracket supported beneath said desk; a locking-bolt supported in said bracket and having a handle located within easy access of the operator; a spring tending to move said bolt into locking engagement with said wicket to hold said wicket in its closed position. against the action of its movingspring; and a foot-lever connected with said guide-rods for moving said wicket against the action of its said moving-spring.

7. In an automatically-operated wicket, in combination, a desk; a wicket proper; slotted guide-tubes; guiderods in said tubes, to which guide-rods said wicket is connected; a cross-bar connected to said guide-rods for moving said rods; buflers for cushioning the movement of said cross-bar; aspring in each of said guide-tubes for moving said guiderods in one direction; means arranged to be operated from beneath the desk for holding said wicket against the action of said springs; and a foot-lever connected with said cross-bar for moving said wicket against the action of its said springs.

NICHOLAS F. PURCELL. FREDERICK W. MILLER. Witnesses:

C. A. HOIST, GEORGE L. CHINDAHL. 

